Commander Max
Sr Member
See post #13.
I'll second micdavis.
And I would like to add.
Please inspect and test your products before the customer does.
I would like to see products that are made in the USA.
Master Replicas
- Thread starter Cjfung
- Start date
I'll second micdavis.
And I would like to add.
Please inspect and test your products before the customer does.
I would like to see products that are made in the USA.
YenChih Lin
Master Member
Ok,
then handle this TNG Tricorder issue properly - it was a mess!
I'd like to see these babys done - and as Mic said - no preorders, just ready functional items. Pimp the Tricorder if necessary! (Longer sound loop, no hinge issue, more scan sounds from the sound stage)
then handle this TNG Tricorder issue properly - it was a mess!
I'd like to see these babys done - and as Mic said - no preorders, just ready functional items. Pimp the Tricorder if necessary! (Longer sound loop, no hinge issue, more scan sounds from the sound stage)
Yeah, uhm ? If MR had followed that philosophy it likely would
have never died :confused
I believe it was the manufacturer in China that got them into
the most trouble wasn't it?
-Chris
Darth Raijlin
Active Member
Or the Concept Vader that was supposed to hit the market February 2009, according to one of their reps when I emailed them.
LOL...:lol
Good thing I decided to go with Stone's version. Better sculpt and it'll probably be done sooner.
exoray
Master Member
Very true, made in America is great and as an American I fully support it but when you are talking about these type of items the cost plays a very important part... Made in America is a hard business sell, it's simply not cost effective most of the time...
BTW made in China doesn't equate to junk, there are plenty of Chinese corporations that put out top notch high quality products... Rather than insisting on Made in USA, the focus needs to be on quality control and finding a company that will produce the product within the balance of cost and quality...
A compromise can be reached where the parts are made overseas and assembled domestically (preferably local) so that QC can be tightly monitored... Of course this raises cost but it makes monitoring QC issues much easier...
Say what you will about cost vs. profit. If we had kept a handle on exporting "our" jobs - this country would be in much better condition today. It's only a "hard business to sell" because we let it get out of hand decades ago. It paved the way for what we come to expect today. If we can't make it in America, we don't need it.
And I would absolutely insist on "Made in America" thanks. That's where we live. It's our home. It's called keeping it in the family. Anything else is just a cop out :angry
-Chris
And I would absolutely insist on "Made in America" thanks. That's where we live. It's our home. It's called keeping it in the family. Anything else is just a cop out :angry
-Chris
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Sorry bro gotta disagree with you and mike on this one.
They only took Money when the product was ready to ship.
I'm right there with you.
Lots and lots of announcements but not really a lot of items have made it out.
I think they have already bit off more than they can chew.
I hope not I really do but so far no good.
Commander Max
Sr Member
The reason stuff isn't made in USA, is the regulations US businesses have to follow. With the biggest cost being employees. You can blame business all you want for leaving, all they are trying to do is survive. Because government makes it very hard to do business in the USA.
I do equate Chinese being junk because it is. There is a reason the stuff costs less. Their stuff doesn't have the quality of stuff made in other nations. Especially with tools.
As far as the ex MR associates are concerned, I have no interest in any new products from a new company. They lost me with the products I bought from them when they ran MR.
I do equate Chinese being junk because it is. There is a reason the stuff costs less. Their stuff doesn't have the quality of stuff made in other nations. Especially with tools.
As far as the ex MR associates are concerned, I have no interest in any new products from a new company. They lost me with the products I bought from them when they ran MR.
exoray
Master Member
Have you ever done cost analysis on a product? I contacted no less then 25 American/Canadian PC Board manufacture/assemblers when I was subbing out a larger electronics job... The cheapest was 4x (most expensive was nearly 10x) what I can get them done for overseas... I tried to keep the job in the US and spent weeks shopping for a US company that could do it within cost but I simply couldn't... My buyer wasn't willing to spend 4x + the cost for the same thing... I mean seriously try rationalizing with a customer that they should spend $200 per unit to have it made in America vs $50 to have it made overseas... Like I said made in America is great and I fly that flag when I can, but saying cost is a cop out is absurd as it's simply a real cost factor in a world market if you want to be competitive...
Master Replicas
New Member
Thank you everybody, all excellent points well made, and taken seriously on board.
On the subject of domestic production this is something we are actively investigating and would like to undertake, particularly for smaller run boutique type items with smaller edition sizes or levels of detail/quality not conducive to larger scale production.
Interestingly the biggest problem we face with domestic production is not a lack of artisans to produce the actual items, or the cost of the items themselves as that’s comparative to the type of item actually being provided… apples and oranges. It’s finding potential partners who then have the capabilities to produce the packaging, collateral materials and then prep, pack and ready the items in boxes and packaging to a high enough standard, and then ship those items, the frankly quite boring elements that often go overlooked but are so blatantly obvious when a product is received, or more importantly offered for sale at retail. The cost for these elements domestically has so far proven to be very high, in some cases higher than the actual item itself! Why? Because these elements cannot be produced or managed in-house so artisans are forced to buy these elements in from other 3rd parties.
The question is…Consumers have come to expect a certain standard of shipping carton, retail box, Styrofoam, envelope, wallet, etc etc of these types of items. Would consumers be happy to receive a higher quality domestically produced item in a more simplistic, affordable and green packaging solution that would be able to withstand the rigours of shipping such as a simple crate packed with recycled matrials? And we are talking about the average consumer of these products, not the experienced RPF’er who is likely to be more forgiving. 99% of the major retailers and distributors would for example refuse to accept such an item as it does not meet their standards. Interesting debate.
We would love to be proven wrong and produce a line of affordable domestically produced items, both in the USA and within Europe for our European customers. So it goes without saying anybody on this forum who has production/manufacturing capability/capacity and is interested in taking on a licensed replica item give us a call and introduce yourself to us and let us know your specialties/areas of expertise… that’s of course if we don’t come knocking on your door first ;-) Tel: 925 270 3739 (outside the USA add +1)
On the subject of domestic production this is something we are actively investigating and would like to undertake, particularly for smaller run boutique type items with smaller edition sizes or levels of detail/quality not conducive to larger scale production.
Interestingly the biggest problem we face with domestic production is not a lack of artisans to produce the actual items, or the cost of the items themselves as that’s comparative to the type of item actually being provided… apples and oranges. It’s finding potential partners who then have the capabilities to produce the packaging, collateral materials and then prep, pack and ready the items in boxes and packaging to a high enough standard, and then ship those items, the frankly quite boring elements that often go overlooked but are so blatantly obvious when a product is received, or more importantly offered for sale at retail. The cost for these elements domestically has so far proven to be very high, in some cases higher than the actual item itself! Why? Because these elements cannot be produced or managed in-house so artisans are forced to buy these elements in from other 3rd parties.
The question is…Consumers have come to expect a certain standard of shipping carton, retail box, Styrofoam, envelope, wallet, etc etc of these types of items. Would consumers be happy to receive a higher quality domestically produced item in a more simplistic, affordable and green packaging solution that would be able to withstand the rigours of shipping such as a simple crate packed with recycled matrials? And we are talking about the average consumer of these products, not the experienced RPF’er who is likely to be more forgiving. 99% of the major retailers and distributors would for example refuse to accept such an item as it does not meet their standards. Interesting debate.
We would love to be proven wrong and produce a line of affordable domestically produced items, both in the USA and within Europe for our European customers. So it goes without saying anybody on this forum who has production/manufacturing capability/capacity and is interested in taking on a licensed replica item give us a call and introduce yourself to us and let us know your specialties/areas of expertise… that’s of course if we don’t come knocking on your door first ;-) Tel: 925 270 3739 (outside the USA add +1)
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darth_myeek
Sr Member
I used to think that way. American companies that have products made for them in China or nameless other countries aren't looking for quality first. They are looking for price and a product that Americans will buy. American companies sign off on Chinese product samples, and Americans roll over to "the store" and reward businesses. I see the same quality issues with outsourced IT labor, and want to blame other countries but really four fingers are pointing back to America.
-DM
I completely understand. I am well aware that it is the current nature of the beast. I also understand that current U.S. regulation makes it nearly impossible to be competitive with over seas manufacturing. That is the government's intent but I'm certainly not going to go there :lol
I think you nailed the problem on the head. Your "buyer" didn't want to pay 4x more. This is what I meant about us letting this get out of hand decades ago. It's companies like this that have already sold us out many years ago. It wasn't always about trying to survive and stay competitive. It started out as the bottom dollar for greedy executives and CEO's. They didn't give a rats ass what it would do to this country in 20 years.
A lot of the U.S. companies that are charging 4x more - are doing so to survive too. Because so much has been exported, they have to treat every new client as if it were going to be their last and gouge the hell out of them. Because there isn't enough to go around. They're starving for business.
It's a very sad catch 22. Unfortunately I think it's too late. It's become the "American" way.
If more companies would have just bit the bullet and refused to export their manufacturing even 10 years ago, regardless of the hardships - there may have still been a shred of hope in restoring balance.
"Made in China" has become the biggest joke in retail. Everyone knows it. And it is because 99% of the time it is junk. American companies that are producing lower quality products than they used to .. are only doing so to keep from drowning in the cesspool of exportation. Selling out our future's for 25 cents an hour :angry This isn't about being a bigot at all. I have no problem with China or Japan, it's our own damned fault :lol I drive a Titan for goodness sakes. But it's made in the U.S. - by American men and women :thumbsup
Boxing/Packaging? That is not what this is about :lol That's farcical. A great replica at a fair price with a COA/Plaque/Stand is all anyone wants. I don't know of anyone who could care less about the box it arrives in as long as it arrives safely :wacko As far as distributors go .. you have the advantage. You have the licenses to make these replicas. They will distribute your products wether they like your packaging or not or they won't be able to give their customers the toys they seek. That's ridiculous. "If you build it, they will come " (or sell for you in this case) :lol
The MR ROTS Vader Helmet came in a great package :thumbsup That's about all it had going for it. Don't get me started on the MR Boba Fett Helmet. Mine still reeks of formaldehyde to this day. Both flawed in so many ways it was laughable. Both of these examples are only the tip of what jumping into bed with the lowest bidder can do for a company. I believe that this is what ultimately led to the demise of Master Replicas. They couldn't recover from the unfortunate circumstances of their manufacturer letting them down - in a BIG way.
-Chris
.
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Commander Max
Sr Member
If only people knew the extent of it. It's sad they blame private sector.
I find it hard to blame the private sector for this, the first thing in business is survival. 20 years ago regs were not as bad as they are now, but what was in place was still effecting the bottom line.
If they didn't those companies would be out of business. It's really sad I was looking for machine tools around that time. Some of what I saw on e-bay was unbelievable deals and really sad stories. Guys wanted to keep their manufacturing here, and couldn't afford to.
And he had to talk green, the biggest joke/farce around. To make it even funnier they have their products made in China, and then talk about how green they should be.
You want to be green, buy green colored boxes.
-Chris[/quote]
Your assuming the foreign subcontractors will not play games and they do.
Plus there is a language/culture barrier, I've heard of guys having endless problems with trying to get a Chinese company to listen. They have to take what they are given because they are under their own deadlines, and crushing interest payments. Which is the biggest problem with having things made overseas.
:lol :lol
I agree with all of your other points. I really do. And perhaps what I said sounded a bit naive. But more what I was referring to was an "if only" scenario. "If only" more companies had refused to export, we'd be in better shape today. But, it would have taken a huge collaborative effort in industries across the board so as not to kill off competition. Sadly, there wouldn't have been enough of these companies that cared for anything else but greed. My point I suppose was - greed played a HUGE factor. It has since the beginning of time.
Here's a novel Idea for Factory Replicas / EFX -
Raise the capitol, and facilitate these points yourself. If you can't make it yourself, just don't. At least not until you can grow enough to do so yourself. There is something to be said for keeping things in house, where you can keep an eye on it at all times without having to "jet set" abroad to do so. I'm sure those expenses are passed down to your cutomers? It's not like if you can't make it, someone else will. You're in position where "competition" doesn't exist ! You have the licenses !! :lol Crawl, before you can walk. make what you can now - develop a solid reputation. Gain the respect of the community. Once confidence has been established (or restored in this case) - call for investors. The capitol to grow and do it yourself will come :thumbsup
-Chris
.
I think most would definatly be up for making the stuff in the US and having it shipped in a styrofoam container wrapped in Duck tape. I want the item and really could care less about the shipping box as long as it gets the item to me intact. If the price of the box is where the higher cost is coming from between a US and China made product than screw the fancy box. They just sit in my attic anyways. If you can find a way to supplemant the styrofaom for paper mache than that will work too. Just don't skimp on the item or the stand.
defstartrooper
Sr Member
As far as the packaging question, yes i would gladly accept an item in any kind of packaging if it protects the item in transit, but then i'm not your average licensed collectable customer, they like the fancy packaging and the shiney plaque and certificate with numbers on, so much so that most of them choose to either leave the product unopened in the packaging or open it once inspect it it then replace it again.
Oh and made in Britain is best
In all seriousness made anywhere is fine aslong as it's made well, sorry but there's plenty of junk made in the US the UK and everywhere else in the world, there are good and bad manufacturers everywhere, a flag makes no difference.
P.S they are manufacturers not artisans, that would be lovely if companies would stop using BS language like this and the claims of accuracy and misleading advertising that alludes to the replica being an exact copy of the original, i don't expect you will but it would be nice.
Oh and made in Britain is best
In all seriousness made anywhere is fine aslong as it's made well, sorry but there's plenty of junk made in the US the UK and everywhere else in the world, there are good and bad manufacturers everywhere, a flag makes no difference.
P.S they are manufacturers not artisans, that would be lovely if companies would stop using BS language like this and the claims of accuracy and misleading advertising that alludes to the replica being an exact copy of the original, i don't expect you will but it would be nice.
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